THE cliff tops at Cape Solander are the setting for a daring short film by Cronulla director Edward Lyons.
A Man on the Edge begins with a troubled man on a cliff top on the verge of committing suicide.
The man (played by Tom O'Sullivan) is interrupted by a young woman (played by Cheree Cassidy) and through a series of flashbacks he reveals to her how he killed his wife.
Lyons said the idea came from an article he read about the late Don Ritchie, who resided next to The Gap and saved many lives.
"I wanted to look at that relationship in that dark moment," he said.
"Within any tragedy there must be a glimmer of hope and that light at the end of the tunnel.
When people are in that space they are just thinking about the pain and wanting the pain to stop but if you can get past the pain, things will get better."
The film had its world premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood in June as part of the Dances with Films festival.
Since then it has been accepted into 40 international festivals, nominated 18 times and to date has won seven awards. It has recently been invited to screen in one of the most highly acclaimed festivals in Germany, the Hof International Film Festival.
Lyons filmed much of the 11-minute film in Sutherland Shire sites all in one day.
It is his fourth short film.
"In a short film the idea has to be pure and simple and you have to place the character and situation very quickly," he said.
"We have a man standing on a spectacular cliff top and it is a powerful opening image."
Visit www.amanontheedge.com for updates of a local screening.
Will you watch this shire-based film?
Anyone who may have concerns about the content of the film may contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
